Illusion device.



No. 873,447. PATENTED DEG'. 1o, l19o?. A. K. MAssAAD. ILLUsIoN DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED `MAR. 28. 1906.

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.openings at wil l AscANnnR' KHALDAH MAssAAD, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

Specification of Letters Patent.

ILLUsIoN DEVICE.

Patented Dec. lO, 1907.

Application filed March 28.1906. Serial No. 308.388.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, ASGANDER KHALDAH MAssAAD, a subject of the Sultan of Turkey, (having received first papers of citizenship in the United States residing in theborough of Manhattan, city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Illusion Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to illusion devices for exhibition purposes, and aims to provide certain improvements therein.

My invention comprises a chamber, one wall of which is provided with an opening or series of openings and means for closing such Preferably such chamber comprises a cabinet of suitable proportions which is provided at its front with a door having a series of openings, and means for closing such openings operable from the exterior of the cabinet. Such cabinet is preferably provided at its rear with a solid door or doors through which access to the interior of the cabinet may be obtained without using the f-ront door of the cabinet.

In the drawings wherein I have shown the preferred embodiment of my invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device, Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the front door thereof, Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3, 3, in Fig. 2, Fig. 4 is a section taken on vthe line 4, 4, in Fig. 2, Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of Fig, 3, Fig. 6 is a section of the cabinettaken approximately on the line 6, 6, in Fig. 1. I

I will first describe the structure of the device provided by my invention and then explainthe manner of its use.

In the drawings, let A designate a suitable table or support having legs a, a, and abroad top b. Such table is of ordinary construction, being free from any trap doors, mirrors-or other devices, the space between the top l) and the floor being entirely open except for the legs a.

B indicates any suitable chamber of sufcient dimensionsfto accommodate the object which is to appear within the cabinet, such object usually bein@ a person or persons. Such chamber is preferably made in the form of a cabinet having a bottom c, a top d, sides e, e, and backf. Such cabinet has one of its walls of peculiar construction. Preferably such wall is in the form of a swinging door C mounted. to swing upon hinges g, g,

.between them a series of movable `o, o, in the form of strips which are preferably :the strips 'i and attached to one of the side walls of the cabinet.

The door C which is best illustrated in Figs. 2 to 5 is providedwith a series of o enings h, h. Such openings are shown as eilongated slots formed between a series of strips i, i, which preferably extend from the top to the bottom of the door, being suitably fastened at their ends to the frame k of the latter. At the rear of the strips i, and in line therewith, is a second series of. strips m, m, preferably of the same shape and thickness as the strips i. The strips m are secured in the lframe of the door in the same manner as are vthe strips i.

The front and rear strips are spaced apart sufficiently to accommodate shutters of exactly the same width and thickness as m. The shutters o are connected to each other` at their middles by a tape p, which is concealed by a cross piece or bar g extending across the middle of the door as best shown inFigs. 2, 3 and 5. The ends of the tape p are passed through the opposite sides of the frame 7c of the door and are provided with suitable rings or handles r, r', on the outside and rings r2 r3 on the inside so that the shutters o may be moved together to the left to close the slots h, h, or in the reverse direction to open the slots. The ring or handle r or r serves as a sto to limit the movements of the shutters o w en the opposite handle or ring is manipulated to move the shutters. The cabinet 1s `preferably provided with a wall having a concealed door or doors through which access may be gained to the cabinet independently ofA the door C.

Preferably such door or doors are used as shown in Fig. 6, each door being hinged at its edge to the side wall of the cabinet and being adapted to swing inwardly as shown in dotted lines. Such doors may also swing outwardly if desired.

The entire interior of the cabinet is painted or lined with a dull black coating or covering. The slats or strips of the door C are preferably painted dull black at their edges and are shaded into a metal color such as dull silver or aluminium at their central portions. This gives the effect of a door` having rounded bars and as it is hard to distinguish between the edges of the bars and the black lining of the cabinet, such bars appear to be much narrower than they in fact are and the space there is no trap between them consequently appears to be proportionately greater. The movable shutters 0 are also given a dull black iinish; this may be done by covering them with a velvet of black or other suitable color as shown at t in Fig. 3 or otherwise as desired. A velvet covering is preferred as it produces the correct coloring and prevents any rattling of the shutters.

I will now describe the method of using my device to produce the novel' illusion originated by me.

Before the curtain is raised upon the stage or other place where the illusion is to be produced, the cabinet B is arranged upon the table A with its front toward the audience and in such manner that but a small margin of the top I) of the table extends in front of the cabinet. The table is proportioned to leave sufficient room at the rear of the cabinet for the object to be produced, usually that of a person or persons in fancy attire. This extension of the table at the rear of the cabinet is not noticeable from the audience. The person to be produced having taken her place behind the cabinet, the curtain is elevated and the operator passes a cane or wand under the table in all directions to show that door or connection between the table and the stage. He then throws the door C open and steps inside the cabinet and knocks upon its walls to show that there are no mirrors or other devices Within the cabinet. When the door is opened so that the audience can see its inner side, the strips t, m, appear to constitute a single bar so that the existence of the shutters 0 o is not suspected by the audience. He may then close the door Cwhile still in the cabinet and in this case is, of course, in plain view of the audience through the openings or slots 7L in the door. Preferably also the cane or Wand of the operator is extended through the openings to the exterior. The operator may then leave the cabinet and to further illustrate the apparent absence of any hidden chamber Within the cabinet may take down one of the sides e and the top d, such parts being made separable for this purpose. This operation proves conclusively to the audience that the cabinet is but a plain ordinary box or chamber and absolutely empty. After the sides and top are replaced this illusion may be further heightened by the operator by closing they door O and moving the table entirely around so that the back of the cabinet is in plain view of the audience. Previous to such movement, however7 the operator has manipulated the handle or ring r to move the shutters 0 to close the openings 7L. As at this time there is nothing to be seen in the cabinet except the dead black of the interior thereof, it is impossible to detect the fact that the openings are closed, and hence the audience is still under the impression that it is looking into the interior of the cabinet. After the openings are closed and before the cabinet is turned with its rear to the audience, however, the person to be disclosed within the cabinet, steps into the interior thereof through the rear doors a and closes the latter. After the cabinet is turned to its original position the operator with the usual formula or pass may command the person to appear within the cabinet and at the same time manipulate the opposite handle 1" to quickly draw back the shutters o whereupon the person instantaneously appears through the bars of the door C. The person. within the cabinet may also open and close the shutters by rings 1* 7i. The latter may then. be opened and the person permitted. to pass out on to the stage, or such person may be caused to disappear by reverse manipulation of the shutters o. The cabinet is preferably of sulhcient proportions to permit two or more persons to stand behind it and within it, so that these persons may be made to appear simultaneously or individually within the cabinet.

Many changes may be made in the preferred construction shown without departing from the spirit of the invention. IVhile the chamber B is preferably in the form of a cabinet, it may consist of any suitable chamber which is adapted for the purpose. strictly essential that the wall of the chamber which is provided with the openings shall be in the form of a door, as a separate means of ingress and egress to the cabinet may be provided or omitted entirely. So also the rear doors n may be provided in another wall of the device or any other suitable means may be provided for gaining entrance to the chamber. Nor is it necessary that the openings ofthe wall or door C shall be in the shape of elongated slots as shown, or to be closed by movable shutters such as o, as obviously the parts may be constructed in many different ways and produce substantially the same eifect. The slats may be of any shape and may be closed by any means which interferes with the vision, as for instance a curtain or other means. I prefer, however, to follow closely the construction shown since the greatest degree of illusion with the least chance of detection is obtained in the particular structure set forth.

What I claim is 1. In an illusion device, a chamber having its front wall formed with a series of openings, shutters adapted to be moved into and out of position to close such openings, the interior of such chamber and the exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored so that when the 'shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is similar to that of the interior of the chamber as seen through such openings.

2. In an illusion device, a chamber having a front door formed with a series of openings,

It is not 9 shutters adapted to be movedl into and out of position to close such o enings, the interior of such chamber and t e exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored so that when the shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is similar to that of the interior of the chamber as seen through such openings.

3. 1n an illusion device, a chamber having a Jr'ront wall formed of a series of strips, a series of shutters adapted to be moved from behind such strips to positions between the same, the interior of said chamber and the exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored, so that when the shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is similar to that of the interior of said chamber, as seen through the spaces between said strips.'

4, In an illusion device, a chamber having a frontl wall Jformed of a series of strips, a series of shutters adapted to be moved from behind such strips to positions between the same, the interior of said chamber being colored to give it a dark appearance, and said shutters being corres ondingly colored, and said strips having lig t central portions and dark edges. 4

5. ln an illusion device, a chamber having its front wall formed with a series of openings, shuttersadapted to be moved into and out of position to close such openings, the vinterior wall of such chamber and the exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored so that when the shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is.

similar to that of the interior of the chamber as seen through such openings and said chamber having a door at its rear.

6. ln an illusion device, a chamber having a frontwall formed of a series of strips, a

series of shutters adapted to be moved Jfrom behind such strips to positions between the same, the interior of said chamber and the exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored, so that when the shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is similar to that ofthe interior of such chamber, as seen through the spaces between said strips, and said chamber having a door atv its rear.

7. In an illusion device, a chamber having its front wall formed with a series of open* ings, shutters adapted to be moved into and out of position to close such openings, the interior wall of such chamber and the exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored so that when the shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is similar to that of the interior of the chamber as seen-through such openings, and means for operating said shutter extending to the exterior of the device.

8. In an illusion device, a chamber having its front wall formed with a series of openings, shutters adapted to be moved into and out of position to close such openings, the interior wall of such chamber and the exterior of said shutters being correspondingly colored so that when the shutters are closed they have an appearance to the eye which is similar to that of the interior of the chamber as seen through such openings Vand means for operating said shutter extending to the interior of the device.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ASC/ANDER KHALDAH MASSAAD. Witnesses:

EUGENE V. MYERS, THEoDoRE T. SNELL.' 

